Spring resistant type of exercising device

ABSTRACT

An exercising device for the exercise and development of arm, chest and shoulder muscles having a compression spring between two handles which are grasped and pushed toward each other thereby causing the user&#39;&#39;s muscles to work against the force of the spring.

A United States Patent [1 1 Hutchinset al.

[ SPRING RESISTANT TYPE OF EXERCISING DEVICE [76] Inventors: Teresa E. Hutchins; Robert L.

Hutchins, both of 302 North McKinley, Flushing, Mich. 48433 221 Filed: July 1, 1971 21 Appl. Not: 158,673

[52] US. Cl 272/83 R [51] Int. Cl A63b 21/00 [58] Field of Search 272/83 R, 82, 80,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,544,106 12/1970 -Barrett 272/83 R June 26, 1973 1,956,498 4/1934 Duke 272/83 R Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne Attorney- Robert C. Hauke, Ernest l. Gifford et a].

[57] ABSTRACT 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures llllllyllumrlrpg PAIENTiMunzs ms 3. 741. 539

FIG. I

INVENTORS TERESA E. HUTCHINS ROBERT L. HUTCHINS lav/M g ATTORNEYS SPRING RESISTANT TYPE OF EXERCISING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to spring type exercising devices, and more particularly to a device where manual effort is exerted in compressing a spring, thereby exercising the muscles of the upper limbs and torso of an individual.

Spring exercisers are known in the art and generally employ the requirement of either torsion, tension or compression against a spring force to exercise various muscles. Generally, the springs are exposed and thus can cause a pinching injury during use. Also, the handles of prior art devices have been difficult to grasp or soon come apart from the pressures and friction produced during the performance of the exercises. The object of this invention is to provide a spring exerciser which avoids the above disadvantages and thus provides a safe, easy to use and durable piece of exercising equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The preferred'embodiment of the invention consists of a solid rod on the middle section of which is mounted a sleeve. A coil spring is mounted over each of the outer ends of the rod such that the inner diameter of the coil spring is just large enough to slide over the rod without binding or friction and such that the outer diameter of the coils is no larger than the diameter of the sleeve mounted on the middle section of the rod. Two hat-shaped handles, which may be composed of a tubular piece of metal or plastic with an outwardly extending flange at one end and an inwardly turned one at the other, are slid over the ends of the rod and over the coil springs mounted thereon. The ends of the rod are then capped by washers attached by means of screws, rivets, or staking so that the hat-shaped handles are not permitted to slide off the ends of the rod.

For use, the exerciser is grasped by the handles andforce is applied to push them inwardly toward each other. The applied force is resisted by the coil springs trapped between the handles and the rod sleeve. To repeat the exercise, the user merely allows the springs to push the handles back to their outer positions against the cap washers at the end of the rod, from which outer position he again can-push the handles inwardly toward each other, thus exercising his muscles against the resistant force of the coil springs.

The following detailed description provides further details of the use, advantages and best method of producing the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention showing the method of grasping the exerciser during use;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the exerciser shown in its initial position with no external force being applied;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the exerciser shown in its contracted position and with an inward force being applied on the handles; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the exerciser taken substantially along line 4 4 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 consists of two handles l2, 13 which slide over a rod 14 to perform the exercises. The handles 12, 13 are grasped as shown in FIG. 1 and force is applied to push the handles along the axis of the rod 14 toward each other.

As shown in FIG. 2, a sleeve 15 is mounted over the center section of the rod 14. In the embodiment shown, the sleeve 15 is formed of plastic or similar material, but, alternatively, the rod 14 and sleeve 15 could consist of a single rod where the diameter at the ends is less than the diameter of the middle section. Such a rod could be easily produced by turning the rod material in a lathe and turning the rod down from its diameter at the ends.

Springs 16 and 17 are slid over the ends l8, 19 of the rod. As shown, the inner diameters of the coils of the springs 16 and 17 are such that the springs easily tit over the rod ends 18, 19 and the outer diameters do not go beyond the diameter of the sleeve 15. The handles 12, 13, which are preferably constructed of a material such as plastic, are identical to each other and each consists of a tubular section 20, at one end of which is formed an outwardly extending circular flange 21, and the other end of which is partially enclosed by an inward flange 22 formed on the opposite end of the tubular portion 20. The flanges 21 provide a guard which prevents the hands from accidentally slipping off the handles 12, 13 as the handles are moved inwardly against the springs. The inner diameter of each of the handles 12, 13 is such as to permit the handles to slide along over the sleeve portion 15 and the spring 16, 17. The inward flange 22 of the handles 12, 13 extends to adjacent the outer diameter of the end portions 18, 19 so that as the handles 12, 13 are moved axially, the rod 14 and the coil springs 16, 17 are trapped and compressed between the flanges 22 on the handles and the sleeve 15 on the middle section of the rod 14. The end portions 18, 19 of the rod 14 are capped by washers 24, 25 so that the handles are prevented from sliding off the ends of the rod 14. The washers 24, 25 are attached to the rodends 18, 19 by means of screws 26, 27 attached into threaded holes in the ends of the rod. Alternatively, the washers 24, 25 may be affixed by pressriveting or staking.

FIG; 2 shows the exercising device 10 in its normal position. FIG. 3 shows the exerciser in its compressed position where the muscular force on the handles 12, 13 has pushed them toward each other and has compressed the springs l6, 17 which are trapped between the flanges 22 and the sleeve 15.

It is apparent that an economically produced portable exercising device has been described. It is also apparent that many changes and modifications can be made in the illustrated preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An exerciser device comprising a rod with a middle section of a cross section larger than the cross section at each end of said rod;

a spring mounted on each end of said rod with one end of each of said springs engaging said middle section;

a handle slidably mounted on each end of said rod,

said handles extending over said middle section of 5 said rod whereby said springs are completely enclosed by said handles;

said handles including inwardly extending portions at the ends thereof and the opposite ends of said springs engaging said inwardly extending portions of said handles to urge said handles along said rod other against the force of the springs. 

1. An exerciser device comprising a rod with a middle section of a cross section larger than the cross section at each end of said rod; a spring mounted on each end of said rod with one end of each of said springs engaging said middle section; a handle slidably mounted on each end of said rod, said handles extending over said middle section of said rod whereby said springs are completely enclosed by said handles; said handles including inwardly extending portions at the ends thereof and the opposite ends of said springs engaging said inwardly extending portions of said handles to urge said handles along said rod in a direction away from said middle section of said rod; means formed on the ends of said rod and engaging said handles to prevent separation of said handles and said rod; and said handles being formed with outwardly formed flange portions on the inner ends thereof to prevent the hands of a user from slipping off the handles as the handles are grasped and moved toward each other against the force of the springs. 